Japan Professional Baseball Championship Series プロ野球日本選手権シリーズ Puro Yakyū Nippon Senshuken Shiriizu 2023 Nippon Series Orix Buffaloes vs Hanshin Tigers "The Great Kansai Derby" First team to win 4 games wins Series. Tied games are declared after 12 innings in Games 1-7. Any potential subsequent games will be played until a winner is decided (unlimited innings). Designated hitter will be used in the Pacific League team's ballpark (1, 2, 6, 7). Pitchers will bat in the Central League team's ballpark (3, 4, 5) Interleague series: Buffaloes 2-1 Sat 28 Oct - Game 1, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 29 Oct - Game 2, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Tue 31 Oct - Game 3 , Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Wed 1 Nov - Game 4, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Thu 2 Nov - Game 5, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Sat 4 Nov - Game 6, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 5 Nov - Game 7, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Theoretically, the Series can go a maximum of 14 games. For this to happen, Games 1-7 would each have to end tied after 12 innings. Then Games 8-13 would be split, evening the Series at 3-3 which would require Game 14 In 1986 the Seibu Lions won the Japan Series over the Hiroshima Carp 4-3-1. This is the only time in history that the Nippon Series went beyond 7 games.
Media predictions A look at how a few former players and current Sports Nippon columnists/commentators feel the Series will go. Isao Harimoto (Outfielder: Fighters, Giants, Orions / Hall of Fame, NPB’s all-time hits leader) "Pitching ability is dead even. Orix has strong tenacity, but Hanshin has greater momentum now. This one will go the distance, and will surely develop into a pleasant viewing experience for those who know the game." Tigers in 7 Michiyo Arido (Infielder: Orions - nicknamed “Mr. Lotte” / 1969 P.L. Rookie of the Year) "The Tigers have an advantage on defense, including the catcher. If they can split the first two games on the road, then win two of three at Koshien, they will be in good shape. The key is Teruaki Sato." Tigers in 7 Koichi Tabuchi (Catcher: Tigers, Lions / Hall of Fame, 1969 C.L. Rookie of the Year) "Both have rock-solid pitching staffs. The Buffaloes may struggle to score runs with Sugimoto, Kurebayashi, and Tongu’s physical conditions in question. The fact that Hanshin runs out the same lineup every night is huge." Tigers in 6 Osamu Higashio (Pitcher: Lions / Meikyukai, Hall of Fame, 2x P.L. MVP) "Pitching staffs are a stalemate, both starters and bullpen. How will experience in the Japan Series play out? If the young Tigers pitchers can play their best games, it will be a good match." Buffaloes in 7 Kiyoshi Nakahata (Infielder: Giants / 6x All-Star, 2004 Olympic manager) "Both teams have strong pitching staffs, so it should be a low-scoring series. How will the offenses get that one extra run and protect the one-run leads? Hanshin has a slight advantage, what with its fixed batting order in which everyone knows his role." Tigers in 7 Shigekazu Mori (Pitcher: Lions / 1983 Fireman Award) "Both teams are pitcher-centered and play strong defense. Hanshin has momentum in their favor but I am buying into Orix’s two straight years of Japan Series experience." Buffaloes in 7 Kazuhiko Ushijima (Pitcher: Dragons, Orions-Marines / 5x All-Star) "Pitching is a deadlock. Orix has three straight pennants but Hanshin has momentum. Okada’s guys have bought into his philosophy of drawing walks, giving them a bit of an edge." Tigers in 7 Hiromi Makihara (Pitcher: Giants / 1983 C.L. Rookie of the Year, 6x All-Star, threw perfect game in 1994) "Pitching is dead even. If Orix loses red-hot Sugimoto to injury, their ability to score runs takes a hit. If he is able to play, they have a strong chance at the Nippon Ichi." Tigers in 7 Tsutomu Itoh (Catcher: Lions / Hall of Fame, 16x All-Star) "Starters are even. Hanshin has a slight advantage with wildcard Takuma Kirishiki in the bullpen. I saw their lineups as even as well, though the injuries to Orix players is going to hurt them." Tigers in 6 Takeshi Nakamura (Catcher: Dragons, BayStars, Eagles / 8x All-Star) "Both teams have outstanding pitching and games should all be within three runs, but Hanshin’s batting order strings together rallies a little better. The Tigers fans will also be an advantage in this Kansai Derby." Tigers in 6 Hatsuhiko Tsuji (Infielder: Lions, Swallows / 1993 Batting champion, 9x All-Star) "Orix is a little unstable with injuries to Sugimoto and Kurebayashi, but they are used to that sort of thing. The fact that they have been through two Japan Series battles already will be a strength for them." Buffaloes in 7
Saturday 28 October Game 1 Probables 18:30 Buffaloes : Yoshinobu Yamamoto (16-6, 1.21 ... 1-0, 6.43) Tigers : Shoki Murakami (10-6, 1.75 ... 1-0, 1.50)
In what could possibly be his final performance in an Orix Buffaloes uniform, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had arguably the the worst outing of his career, allowing 7 earned runs for the first time as a professional as the Hanshin Tigers took Game 1 with a 8-0 destruction of the defending NPB champions. When the Spring and Summer Koshien high school tournaments are being played, the Tigers are forced to play their home games at the Kyocera Dome. On Saturday night the large contingent of Tigers fans arrived late, but given what was taking place on the diamond one could be forgiven if they thought it was late March or mid-August as the visitor's oendan were in fine voice throughout the game. The main news before first pitch was the omission in the Orix lineup of Yutaro Sugimoto, still nursing a foot injury he suffered in the final game of the Pacific League Climax Series on Monday. He's eyeing a return for Game 3. Early on, Yamamoto looked to have his good stuff going, recording 5 strikeouts across 4 scoreless innings and even matched his career high velocity at 159 km/h (99 mph). But Hanshin took it to him in the 5th inning with a huge 4 run rally started by Teruaki Sato's single up the middle. After swiping second base he advanced to third on Sheldon Neuse's sacrifice fly to deep right. Ryo Watanabe, selected as the surprise designated hitter by manager Akinobu Okada, collected the Series' first RBI when his flyball landed in shallow centerfield scoring Sato. Three batters later with runners on first and second and two outs, Koji Chikamoto tripled into the right-centerfield gap scoring Watanabe and Seiya Kinami. Takumu Nakano then slapped a forkball for an opposite field single to left scoring Chikamoto to complete the huge four run rally. The Tigers put up 3 more runs on 4 hits in the 6th to chase Yamamoto from the game. The 3-time Triple Crown winner departed after 5-2/3 innings having allowed 7 earned runs off 10 hits and a walk. Yamamoto also struck 7 batters and is now 0-2 over his 4 career Nippon Series starts. By contrast, his opposite number Shoki Murakami dominated the Buffaloes allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk over 7 shutout innings to earn Hero of the Game honors. Chikamoto led the Hanshin attack at the plate going 3-for-4 including a double and a triple, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored with also walk. Official NPB highlights Pro Yakyu News extended highlights
Sat 28 Oct - Game 1 : Buffaloes 0, Tigers 8 Sun 29 Oct - Game 2, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Tue 31 Oct - Game 3 , Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Wed 1 Nov - Game 4, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Thu 2 Nov - Game 5, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Sat 4 Nov - Game 6, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 5 Nov - Game 7, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Tigers lead Series 1-0
Sunday 29 October Game 2 Probables 18:30 Buffaloes : Hiroya Miyagi (10-4, 2.27 ERA ... 1-0, 0.00) Tigers : Yuki Nishi (8-5, 3.57 ERA)
In a complete reversal of the events that had taken place 24 hours earlier, the Orix Buffaloes bounced back from Saturday's embarrassment to register a hammering of their own as they took Game 2 over the Hanshin Tigers 8-0 to even the Nippon Series at 1 game each (and 8-8 on aggregate score!). Mid-season acquisition Taishi Hirooka began the onslaught in the 3rd inning when he singled to left, advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt and scored on Masahiro Nishino's triple to right to put the home team in front. The Buffaloes then opened the floodgates in the fourth with a 3-run rally despite Hanshin starter Yuki Nishi retiring the first two batters of the inning. A walk to Yuma Mune and a single from Kotaro Kurebayashi was followed with 3 consecutive RBI singles by Tomoya Noguchi, Hirooka and Keita Nakagawa which made the score 4-0 and chased Nishi from the game. Marwin Gonzalez, looking to add a Japan Series championship to his 2017 MLB World Series ring, increased the score to 7-0 with a pinch-hit bases-loaded double off the left field wall in the 7th, and the rout was completed in the 8th when Yuya Oda's grounder was mishandled by Tigers first baseman Yusuke Ohyama allowing Koji Ohshiro to cross home plate with the final run of the night. Buffaloes starter Hiroya Miyagi had no fear tossing 'eephus' pitches throughout his 6 shutout innings that saw him allow just 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5. Miyagi's WBC Samurai teammates Yuki Udagawa and Soichiro Yamazaki each faced the minimum 3 batters in relief as did Atsuya Kogita who closed the show in the 9th. While the first two games were unexpectedly one-sided, the Series is interestingly knotted at 1-1 as everyone packs up and takes the Hanshin Namba railway line 14 km west for Games 3-5 at Koshien. Official NPB highights Pro Yakyu News extended highlights
Sat 28 Oct - Game 1 : Buffaloes 0, Tigers 8 Sun 29 Oct - Game 2 : Buffaloes 8, Tigers 0 Tue 31 Oct - Game 3 , Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Wed 1 Nov - Game 4, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Thu 2 Nov - Game 5, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Sat 4 Nov - Game 6, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 5 Nov - Game 7, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Series tied 1-1
Tuesday 31 October Game 3 Probables 18:00 Tigers : Masashi Itoh (10-5, 2.39 ... 0-0, 1.29) Buffaloes : Kohei Azuma (6-0, 2.06 ... 0-0, 0.00)
On Monday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was officially named the winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award, symbolic of the best pitcher in NPB. "I'm very happy because I feel it means that my hard work throughout the year has been recognized. This is the only award that can be chosen by great pitchers who have been active in the past, so I would like to thank these great players. I'm really happy to have been chosen, and I sincerely hope to work even harder. I think the games where I pitched well were better than last year, but I still haven't been able to pitch like that in every game, so there are a lot of things I can reflect on. I feel like I have to try and get better." (referring to the Japan Series) "As a team, we are all aiming to be the best in Japan, so I will do my best as one of them." Yamamoto (2021, 2022, 2023) joins Masaichi Kaneda (1956, 1957, 1958) as the only pitchers to have won the award for 3 consecutive seasons. Three others have also won the award thrice although not in consecutive years: Shigeru Sugishita (1951, 1952, 1954) Minoru Murayama (1959, 1965, 1966) Masaki Saito (1989, 1995, 1996) In total, there have been 15 multiple recipients of the award. Two foreign pitchers - both American - have also won the award: Gene Bacque (1964) Kris Johnson (2016) The Sawamura Award - officially named 'the Sawamura Prize' - was originally established in 1947 by the Yomiuri Shimbun magazine "Nekkyū" to honor the career of Eiji Sawamura, a power pitcher who enjoyed an illustrious career for the Tokyo Giants before being killed in combat during World War II. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiji_Sawamura The award is independent of the official Most Valuable Pitcher award that is presented to one pitcher in each league (Central and Pacific) every year. It is often called Japan's equivalent to MLB's Cy Young Award since both are regarded as the highest honor that can be bestowed to an individual pitcher. But while the Cy Young is open to every MLB pitcher and voted on by journalists who can use any criteria each deems relevant, the Sawamura has strict guidelines used in the selection process. - Only starting pitchers are eligible for consideration. - Only one winner is named over the whole of NPB. (The Cy Young is annually won by two pitchers, one in the American League and one in the National League.) - The award is voted on by a Selection Committee of five former NPB pitchers, all of whom have either won the Sawamura and/or are inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. In principle, the Selection Committee nominates one pitcher from each of the 12 teams for consideration based on seven selection criteria and supplementary items. However, the criteria are only for reference: • Games started: 25 or more • Wins: 15 or more • Complete games: 10 or more • Winning percentage: .600 or higher • Innings pitched: 200 or more • Earned run average (ERA): 2.50 or lower • Strikeouts: 150 or more •• Since 2018 a supplementary item is also included in the selection process, "3 or fewer earned runs allowed in 7 innings in all games pitched as a starter", a unique criterion similar to Quality Starts (at least 6 innings allowing three earned runs or fewer). This was added because of the gradual decrease on the number of pitchers who don't reach at least 10 complete games or 200 innings. Yamamoto was the only pitcher in 2023 to meet 4 of the 7 criteria: 16 wins / .727 winning percentage / 1.21 ERA / 169 strikeouts He also pitched his second career no-hit no-run game, on September 9 against the Lotte Marines. Katsuki Azuma (16 wins / .842 winning percentage / 1.98 ERA) and Kaima Taira (.611 winning percentage / 2.40 ERA / 153 strikeouts) were the only others to hit 3 of the 7 marks. No pitchers reached 10 complete games or 200 innings pitched. Tomoyuki Sugano (2018) is the last Sawamura winner who reached all 7 criteria. No winner is named if the Selection Committee feels no pitcher is deserving enough. This has happened five times: 1971, 1980, 1984, 2000, 2019 Yamamoto is expected to make the jump to MLB this winter. Past Sawamura Award winners who also played in MLB: Hideo Nomo (1990 Kintetsu Buffaloes) Koji Uehara (1999, 2002 Yomiuri Giants) Daisuke Matsuzaka (2001 Seibu Lions) Kei Igawa (2003 Hanshin Tigers) Kenshin Kawakami (2004 Chunichi Dragons) Yu Darvish (2007 Nippon-Ham Fighters) Hisashi Iwakuma (2008 Rakuten Eagles) Kenta Maeda (2010, 2015 Hiroshima Carp) Masahiro Tanaka (2011, 2013 Rakuten Eagles) Kris Johnson (2016 Hiroshima Carp)
Catcher/battery mate Hikaru Itoh. Couldn’t have done this season without you Itoh! pic.twitter.com/YahtHj0QWV— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 31, 2023
After 8-0 blowouts in the first two games of the 2023 Nippon Series, Game 3 produced a tense nail-biter that went to the final out resulting in the Orix Buffaloes defeating the Hanshin Tigers 5-4 at Koshien Stadium in Noshinomiya. The victory gives the Buffaloes a 2-1 Series lead meaning that if the Tigers are to end their 38 year title drought they will need a return trip to the Osaka Dome for (at least) a Game 6. Yutaro Sugimoto took pre-game batting practice but was still unable to make an appearance for Orix in this year's Japan Series. Hanshin opened the scoring in the second frame. With one out and runners on on the corners, Seishiro Sakamoto grounded into a fielder's choice at second and was able to beat the relay to first allowing Yusuke Ohyama to cross home plate with the game's first run. Marwin Gonzalez made a great effort to get Sheldon Neuse at second preventing a big inning for the Tigers. Yuma Tongu, taking the field at first base for the first time since September 13, connected for the first home run delivered in the Series, a two-out solo effort to centerfield that tied the score at 1-1. Orix then rallied for 3 runs in the 5th which was punctuated by Yuma Mune's first hit of the Series, a 2-run double into the right-centerfield gap that followed a gutsy take on a 2-2 pitch. The Buffaloes what ultimately became the game winning run in the sixth when Ryoichi Adachi scored from third on Kenya Wakatsuki's sacrifice fly to left. The Tigers hit back with three runs in the seventh. Takumu Nakano's bases-loaded ground out to first brought home Sakamoto with the first run, and Shota Morishita singled to right driving in Seiya Kinami and Koji Chikamoto to reduce the Tigers deficit to 5-4. But reliever Yuki Udagawa came on to end the rally then pitched a scoreless 8th before giving way to closer Yoshihisa Hirano who got himself out of a 9th inning jam to become, at 39 years 7 months old, the oldest pitcher to record a save in Nippon Series history. 25 runs after 3 games in what was supposed to be a Series dominated by pitching. Another reason why I love yakyū. Official NPB highlights Pro Yakyu News extended highlights
Sat 28 Oct - Game 1 : Buffaloes 0, Tigers 8 Sun 29 Oct - Game 2: Buffaloes 8, Tigers 0 Tue 31 Oct - Game 3 : Tigers 4, Buffaloes 5 Wed 1 Nov - Game 4, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Thu 2 Nov - Game 5, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Sat 4 Nov - Game 6, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 5 Nov - Game 7, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Buffaloes lead Series 2-1
Wednesday 1 November Game 4 Probables 18:00 Tigers : Hiroto Saiki (8-5, 1.82) Buffaloes : Sachiya Yamasaki (11-5, 3.25)
I love you DeNA fans! Thank you for an incredible season! https://t.co/igYdZdw4zx— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 31, 2023 Enjoyed lining up next to you, @mookiebetts. I’m sorry we couldn’t finish what we started but whether it’s as a teammate or a rival, I hope to see you on the field again soon 🫡 pic.twitter.com/rcB8KTA8hF— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 31, 2023
Orix Buffaloes manager Satoshi Nakajima took a huge risk in the 9th inning of Game 4 and it backfired when Yusuke Ohyama singled home Koji Chikamoto to give the Hanshin Tigers a 4-3 sayonara victory Wednesday night at Koshien. The win evens the Series at 2-2 with Game 5 set for Thursday. The Tigers jumped out in front in the 1st inning when Chikamoto led off with an opposite field single to left, Takumu Nakano sacrificed him to second and Shota Morishita drove him in with a double to deep centerfield In the top of the 2nd Yuma Tongu legged out a leadoff triple (the first of his career) when Chikamoto misplayed a rebound off the centerfield wall. Tongu then jogged home on Kotaro Kurebayashi's bloop single to shallow right field to tie it at 1-1. In the bottom half of the inning Seiya Kinami, who was 5-for-11 in the Series entering Game 4, began a two-out rally with an infield single. After pitcher Hiroto Saiki managed to draw a walk off his counterpart Sachiya Yamasaki, Chikamoto came through with another opposite field single to left scoring Kinami from second. Chikamoto completed his modasho with a looping single to center to begin the 5th, and Nakano reached base on an attempted sacrifice bunt when Yamasaki threw wildly to first. Yamasaki was pulled after the play and although reliever Motoki Higa induced the next two batters into fielder's choice grounders to short, Chikamoto was able to work his his way from second to home making it 3-1 Saiki did not come out for the 6th, ending his night with 5 strong innings in his first mound appearance since October 4, his first start since September 24. An error by Teruaki Sato at third base off a grounder from Taishi Hirooka kick started an Orix rally in the 7th, and with runners on second and third Yuma Mune came up clutch for the second night in a row with a timely 2-run single to center to tie the score at 3-3. The Buffaloes had another rally going in the 8th but with runners at the corners and two outs Hanshin reliever and WBC Samurai member Atsuki Yuasa got Keita Nakagawa to pop out on just one pitch to end the threat. It was Yuasa's first pitch thrown since blowing a save against the Buffaloes during Interleague play back in June. For the night, the Buffaloes left 12 runners on base, 7 of them in scoring position including one in the 9th. Chikamoto reached first for the fourth time of the game after drawing a one-out walk in the last of the 9th. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch from reliever Jacob Waguespack and then, two pitches later, advanced to third off a second wild pitch. It was at this point where Nakajima gambled and went all in. With one out and the count full, the Buffaloes manager decided to give Nakano the free pass to first base, putting runners at the corners. Incredibly, Nakajima decided to intentionally walk Morishita to load the bases, bringing up Hanshin's cleanup hitter Ohyama who duly delivered the sayonara RBI single to left scoring Chikamoto from third and cementing Game 4 for the Tigers. While Nakajima was being heavily second guessed after the game, Hanshin manager Akinobu Okada is also without fault. After winning the pennant Okada cited second baseman Nakano as the team's MVP on the position player front. Nakano had five hits in the first two games of this Series and made good contact in Game 3. And yet in his first three at bats tonight Okada had Nakano sacrifice bunt in his first three plate appearances and likely would have been on to bunt in the 9th had it not been for the wild pitches and intentional walk. It's simply the Japanese way of playing the game. It's now a best-of-3 Series.and guarantees a Game 6 which most likely means one final NPB start for Yoshinobu Yamamoto before being posted. Official NPB highlights Pro Yakyu News extended highlights 11月1日 SMBC日本シリーズ第4戦、今日の勝利のハイタッチ🤚🏻✨✨#勝利のハイタッチ 🤚🏻✨✨#勝男ピース ✌🏻✨✨#阪神タイガース#SMBC日本シリーズ#関西ダービー#なんば線シリーズ pic.twitter.com/UF6QAD3y69— 阪神タイガース (@TigersDreamlink) November 1, 2023
Sat 28 Oct - Game 1 : Buffaloes 0, Tigers 8 Sun 29 Oct - Game 2: Buffaloes 8, Tigers 0 Tue 31 Oct - Game 3 : Tigers 4, Buffaloes 5 Wed 1 Nov - Game 4 : Tigers 4, Buffaloes 3 Thu 2 Nov - Game 5, Hanshin Koshien Stadium (18:00) Sat 4 Nov - Game 6, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Sun 5 Nov - Game 7, Kyocera Dome Osaka (18:30) Series tied 2-2
Thursday 2 November Game 5 Probables 18:00 Tigers : Koutaro Ohtake (12-2, 2.26 ... 0-0, 3.60) Buffaloes : Daiki Tajima 6-4, 3.09 ... 0-0, 6.00)
Congrats to the TEXAS RANGERS! 2023 MLB Champions! THE TEXAS RANGERS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS 🤠🏆 pic.twitter.com/btsYCFX4pR— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 2, 2023 The Texas @Rangers are #WorldChamps pic.twitter.com/pzakThyOwL— Mark McClune (@MarkMcClune) November 2, 2023